The Blitzkrieg Components AR-15 Chevron Front Sight Post (FSP) with white contrast stripe is a great upgrade to any AR-15. With the included proprietary front sight tool, installation and adjustments are an easy task. The recessed white stripe chevron makes for very fast sight picture acquisition and offers a great reference for those who sometimes confuse the protective wings of the front sight housing as the FSP. Sight adjustments are limited to every two clicks with the white chevron on both sides, though only two of the four sides are used for sighting, it will be twice as accurate as a single-sided sight while obtaining a precise zero.

Blitzkreig Components Chevron FSP in a Samson Manufacturing BUIS

The Blitzkrieg Components Chevron FSP is machined from a single piece of billet 416 stainless steel and is coated in a melonite matte black finish. I have successfully installed the chevron FSP in a Diamondhead-USA DIAMOND front BUIS, a Magpul MBUS front sight, a Samson Manufacturing front sight and a standard A2 front sight base. It will fit almost any AR-15 front sight housing, though Blitzkreig Cmponents advises that their chevron FSP is not compatible with the Magpul MBUS Pro or the LWRC Skirmish sights.

Blitzkreig Components Chevron FSP in a Magpul MBUS

Zeroing in my AR with the Blitzkrieg Components Chevron FSP was just as easy as any standard FSP and any noticeable difference in obtaining a realistic zero with every two clicks was negligible compared to one click adjustments. Additionally Blitzkrieg Components also offers a black chevron FSP without the white stripe marking for those who opt not to have the bright white feature on the front sight. Personally, I prefer the white stripe as it offers higher contrast and a faster sight picture.

Engineering wise, I am not sure if it would be possible or even feasible to create a four-sided white stripe chevron FSP that would offer the chevron post on all sides. If that were to be done, it would offer more capabilities for sight adjustment, however the chevron would probably need to be canted at an angle towards the target, and the shape of the sight would be more in line with that of a pyramid. I would be interested to see if that was possible, and if it were to be as effective or if the sight being angled away from the shooter would cause any issues with sight acquisition, or precision.

Even against a bright background, the Blitzkreig Components Chevron FSP offers enough contrast to obtain good sight acquisition.

Strong, Powerful, Robust. That is the definition of the Latin word “Fortis” and what Fortis Manufacturing, Inc. strives to achieve in producing innovate and steadfast products. That sentiment is also included in their motto; “Strength by Design”.

Located in Washington State, Fortis Manufacturing, Inc. (FMI™) is aimed at providing a combination of “Operator” needed strength, exceptional design and aesthetics, while still offering their AR15/M16 product line at an affordable price. FMI™ ensures that all of their products undergo a strenuous T&E process by real-world professionals prior to the product being considered for full production. If the product has necessary design changes, further samples are redesigned, constructed, and sent back out for further testing. The philosophy of FMI™ is to “ensure each product will meet or exceed the heavy demands of the professionals who use them. FMI™ is proud that all of their manufactured parts are made in the United States of America, with the exception of their creative morale patches.

FMI™ offers a diverse accessory line for the AR15/M16 platforms that provide a practical and functional upgrade to a standard set-up.

Fortis Manufacturing REV Rail (14″)

The Fortis REV™ series of Free Float Rail Systems,built out of aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminum and finished with MIL-SPEC Type III hard coat anodization, surely stands out in the crowd. With its sleek appearance and aggressive appearance, the REV™ is as versatile as it is attractive. The REV™ is offered in varying lengths (7”, 9”, 12” and 14”) and features (Standard, 9” CAR Cutout and Mid-length FSP Cutout). For an after-market rail system, the REV™ is one of the lightest options available with the 7” version coming in at 6.7 ounces and the 14” version weighing 11 ounces. The one-piece body design offers strength and installation on an already installed barrel with standard barrel nut only requires the installation of four screws with an Allen wrench. Some of the key features of the REV™ include KeyMod attachment points at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions, a contiguous top rail, an inside diameter of 1.340”, rotation limited QD sockets, and anti-rotational tabs that fits most MIL-SPEC forged uppers, though some slight modification may be required for some uppers. Good news for gas piston system users, the REV™ is also piston compatible. The 14” REV™ is also available in Magpul FDE Cerakote for an additional cost. For the REV™ 9” CAR Cutout and MID FSP Cutout, if used with a FSP with bayonet lug, the lug will touch the bottom of the internal side of the rail.

Fortis Manufacturing Rail Attachment Point (RAP)

The Fortis RAP™ (Rail Attachment Point), made out of 6061 aluminum and hard coat anodized to a deep black finish, is a great solution for the needed attachment of a QD swivel to any MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny Rail, while offering an compact footprint that is barely noticeable. The RAP™ QD socket is rotation limited and is offered either with or without a QD sling swivel.

The Fortis MPSA™ (Multi-Point Sling Adapter) End Plate, built out of 6061 Aluminum and anodized in MIL-SPEC black, features both a quick detach socket and 1.25” loop sling attachment points. It was designed to be used with carbine style buffer tubes for both the AR15 and .308 platforms and is offered in right hand, left hand, and ambidextrous models. The machined edges of the MPSA™ have been fully radiused, inside and out, to prevent hot spots and fraying of the attached sling. If you are looking for an end plate solution with a quick detach option only, FMI™ has you covered with the Fortis QD End Plate, which offers the same features of the MPSA™ minus the loop sling attachment point.

Looking to add a Low Profile Gas Block? FMI™ has that too, which is made out of 4140 steel. The Fortis gas block was designed with today’s match-grade barrels in mind and was built to fit .750 gas seats and attaches to the barrel with two set screws. The gas block comes included with a roll pin for attachment of the gas tube. If you prefer to have your gas block pinned in place, Fortis has options for pinned and not.

When you hear the term “F1” you may think of a fast, high-end, sleek race car. FMI™ has brought the term into the firearms industry with the Fortis F1™ Optics Mount. Instead of fiberglass, the F1™ is built out of one piece billet aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminum and finished with MIL-SPEC Type III hard coat anodization. Originally designed as an after-market option for the popular Aimpoint Micro H-1 and T-1 red dot sights, it is also an excellent option for the Vortex Optics SPARC. Attaching to any MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny Rail with two slotted machine screws, the F1™ is most likely the lightest option available, weighing in at a mere 1.1 ounces. The sleek angled appearance matches up nicely with the REV™ series of rails. As for the co-witness with the Back-Up Iron Sights, the F1™ provides a lower 1/3 co-witness for a larger field of view.

Fortis Manufacturing Rapid Engagement Device (RED)

The Fortis RED™, which is built out of 303 Stainless Steel for a 1/2×28 thread per inch (TPI), 5.56mm barrel, is 2.194 inches long and comes with an included crush washer. The RED™ was tested and evaluated by the LE/MIL community, then put to the test by the 3 gun community. Tested under fully automatic conditions, the RED™ has had favorable reviews.

Fortis Manufacturing Forged Upper Receiver

The Fortis Forged MIL-SPEC Stripped Upper Receiver is machined from 7075-T6 aluminum and is built to MIL-SPEC standards. The Fortis Upper features M4 feed ramps, MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail flat top, engraved “T” numbers, is finished in MIL-SPEC Type III hard coat anodization, and has a dry lube coating to reduce wear and added lubricity. The upper does not come with a dust cover and forward assist assembly.

Fortis Manufacturing SWITCH™ .308 Rail System

Fortis Manufacturing SWITCH™ .308 Rail System

Designed for the DPMS High-Profile .308 Platform, the Fortis Mfg SWITCH™ .308 Rail System is a lightweight and robust free-float rail system that is sure to please. The beauty of this rail is the ability to install and remove without the need of tools and can be quickly swapped out depending on the mission type. The SWITCH™ offers a QD Sling Mount and Key-Mod capability on the sides and bottom and a full length picatinny rail section on the top.

Available in Black Teflon and Nickelene™ finishes, the Fortis Mfg Hammer Charging Handle is one of the “slickest” charging handles I have come across. Not only is it slick-looking, but the finishes adorning these charging handles offer one of the smoothest bolt racks I have experienced. The aggressive serration surface offers extremely positive control as well as aesthetic appeal.

Available for both picatinny and KeyMod rails, the Fortis Mfg SHIFT series of fore-grips come in both a standard length and short angled version. As the name SHIFT implies, the shooter has various options to “shift” the position of their hand to where it is most ergonomically proper depending on the shooters current shooting position. All versions of the SHIFT allow for great control of the AR-platforms and is completely a personal preference on which model is best.

Midwest Industries (MI) is excited to announce many new products for 2014.

MI-SSK 12-inch Key-Mod Rail

First, MI has released the MI-SSK 12-inch Key-Mod rail. The 12-inch MI-SSK is built out of 6061 aluminum and weighs in at 8.5 ounces. This very lightweight rail uses a proprietary barrel nut wrench that can be affixed with a standard barrel nut wrench. The rail comes with 5 QD sockets located on the front and rear of the side rails and one located on the front section of the bottom rail. The MI-SSK will also come in 9, 10.5, and 15-inch length rails. The MI-SSK (12-inch model) will retail for $289.95.

Tavor Keymod Handguard

MI also introduced what appears to be probably the first available Key-Mod handguard available for the IWI Tavor, offering 10 Key-Mod slots on each side of the handguard and an interchangeable front plate that can be replaced with a plate that will accept a 1-inch flashlight to house the light internally and will need a pressure pad to be operated. The Tavor handguard will be available in February.

MI is also offering in 2014 a carbine length drop-in Key-Mod rail, a billet AR-15 receiver set, and scope rings and mounts.

New for Mossie Tactics in 2014 is their new UQDL (Universal Quick Detach Loop). The UQDL allows for multiple mounting locations on multiple weapon systems by placing a coated wire loop through available locations around the weapon system where a typical rail mounted QD socket is not available. The QD socket is built from 6061-T6 aluminum and is anti-rotational.

A new weapon maintenance tool for 2014 from Otis Technology is the Otis Ripcord. This one pass cleaning tool is available in common handgun and rifle calibers, with more coming, and offers 360° barrel cleaning from end-to-end. The Ripcord has 8-32 threaded ends for accommodating additional Otis cleaning components. The Ripcord retails for $14.99.

For those who are familiar with the Otis MSR/AR Cleaning System and B.O.N.E. Tool in the .223/5.56mm variant has been expanded to the .308/7.62mm market for 2014. The .308/7.62mm B.O.N.E. will also be sold separately. The .308/7.62mm B.O.N.E. Tool retails for $29.99.

Otis Technology MSRS

Additionally, stepping outside of being known for quality cleaning supplies, Otis Technology has introduced the MSRS, a 6061-T6, two-piece, free-floating rail for the MSR/AR/M4 platforms that mounts to a standard barrel nut. The MSRS Rail retails for $239.99.

TAC-CON has introduced a new three-mode drop-in AR trigger for 2014, which is a non-NFA part and has received the blessing of the ATF. The three selector positions for this trigger are Safe, Match-Grade Semi-Automatic, and TAC-CON 3rd Mode of Operation.

The TAC-CON 3MR Trigger System requires a pull of the trigger for each round fired and is not a “bump-fire” or fully-automatic system. The 3rd Mode of Operation is achieved by the trigger resetting just as the casing is being ejected and the bolt is still moving rearward, creating an assisted reset. The 3rd Mode trigger reset is approximately half the distance of the semi-automatic reset. The 3MR Trigger retails for $495.00.

New for Trijicon in 2014 is their Variable Combat Optical Gunsight, or VCOG, which has a 1-6x range and continues the tradition of rugged capability expected from Trijicon. The VCOG has seven different FFP reticle choices, functions on a single AA battery for a continuous 700 hours of operation, and is rail mounted.

The VCOG offers 6 brightness settings with off settings between each brightness setting. The first VCOG model to be introduced will be the 5.56 77 gr model, with 7.62 175 gr and 300BLK models to follow. The VCOG retails for $2,800.00.